No. 1 Seed Plant Girls Soccer Prepares for Title Run

When the Plant High School girls soccer team joined its new district, the Panthers knew they weren't the favorites to win it. Now, the team looks to be a surprise champion as it sets its sights on a state title run.

Finishing first in Class 5A-District 7 with 14-1-1 record ahead of last year's state finalists Newsome, the Panthers have stunned everyone, even themselves. By placing a premium on maintaining possession of the ball, first-year coach Pam Smith has been able to create a team that controls the game.

"We have worked on possession all year," Smith said after the team's recent 4-0 victory over Robinson. "You don't always have to go forward. We've worked on the team concept all year, and I think it has showed when we've played good teams."

Coming in, players bought into the system but faced the usual dilemma of playing high school soccer as well as club. Making her team care more about the traditionally overlooked high school game was one of Smith's biggest priorities and has been the most crucial aspect of what makes this Panther team successful.

"Part of working on that team concept is getting them to care about high school soccer," Smith said. "These girls are all club players, so the talent is here and they're doing a great job, but we have to keep them focused on playing soccer here at Plant. Their attitudes have come together, and we're playing really well as a team. It's not just individuals going out there, taking over and having fun."

Amongst the Panther players, there is little doubt in their ability, but a shocking loss in last year's district tournament against Wharton had shaken their confidence a bit as they planned to go further into the postseason. After a 1-0 victory over district favorites Newsome on Nov. 7 of this season, the Panthers' confidence was restored.

"The biggest thing we learned in that game was that we can play with anybody," striker Abby Meckley said. "We had low expectations of what we wanted out of that game, I think, because they went to the state finals last year, and we thought they were better than us. That was a big moment in the season for us, and we expect to see them again in the district final."

As they look ahead to the district tournament set to start this week, the Panthers know they have a few more kinks to work out.

"We need to score more goals," Smith said. "We've had a lot of chances this year and we have some speed out there, but we haven't scored as many goals as we maybe should have. We just have to take our chances when we get them."

Plant only needs one victory to qualify for the next round of the postseason, but winning a district title and beating Newsome again is high on its priority list. For Meckley, a senior and the team's leading scorer with 12 goals, winning this district title is how she hopes to wrap up her high school soccer career.

"Last year we had a lot of talent, but we didn't play together as a team and continually work hard enough to win in districts," Meckley said. "It was a big disappointment, so this year this district tournament is a big priority of ours. We want to get Newsome again. It would be a special way to cap off my four years with Plant soccer."

If You Go

What: Girls soccer Class 5A-District 7 tournament.
Plant High vs. Bloomingdale-Riverview winner.
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Where: Bloomingdale High School, 1700 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico.